The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is upgrading Avoca Drive between Sun Valley Road and Bayside Drive at Green Point. The upgrade will widen the road from one lane to two lanes in each direction, with improved intersections, cycleway and pedestrian facilities. This project is funded by the NSW Government.
Major roadwork construction commenced in early August 2009, for a construction update click here.
Background
Avoca Drive between Sun Valley Road and Bayside Drive is 1.3 kilometres long and currently has one lane in each direction, with intersections at Koolang Road and Park Crescent. The road carries approximately 28,000 vehicles per day.
Avoca Drive connects the residential suburbs of Green Point, Saratoga, Kincumber and south eastern beaches with the commercial areas of Erina and Gosford, through to the F3 Freeway.
Community feedback and improved design
Two options were displayed for public comment between December 2006 and February 2007. Community feedback included a preference for traffic signals at Koolang Road, inclusion of a new link road between Lakewood Avenue and Koolang Road and the provision of a split level carriageway to reduce impact on properties between Bayside Drive and Kenmare Road.
These comments have been incorporated into the revised design which also includes improvements to bus facilities. The alignment of Lakewood Avenue has been redesigned to minimise the impact on the surrounding vegetation.
Measures to avoid or reduce impacts to the community and the environment are planned during construction. These include weed removal and tree planting.
Revised design
How does this design differ to the one previously displayed from December 2006 to February 2007?
- Koolang Road will be realigned and the intersection with Avoca Drive will have traffic signals.
- Lakewood Avenue will be extended to join the intersection of Avoca Drive and Koolang Road.
- There has been a slight shift in the alignment between Bayside Drive and Koolang Road to help minimise the impact on properties on the western side of Avoca Drive.
- There are additional bus bays.
A review of environmental factors for the project was displayed for community comment between 19 December 2007 and 8 February 2008. The review of environmental factors was approved on 26 August 2008.
Features of the project
The upgrade will include:
- Widening of Avoca Drive from one lane to two lanes in each direction. Dual carriageways will be separated by raised concrete median and, in selected locations, a wire rope safety barrier to improve safety for road users.
- Extension of Lakewood Avenue to create a new link to Avoca Drive.
- Traffic signals at the new Avoca Drive intersection with Koolang Road/Lakewood Avenue.
- Left-in left out only at Park Crescent.
- Improved pedestrian facilities along and across Avoca Drive and into Lakewood Avenue.
- A shared cycle/pedestrian path along the eastern side of Avoca Drive.
- Improved street lighting and landscaping.
- Split level carriageway between Bayside Drive and Koolang Road to better manage property access.
Benefits
- Better vehicle travel times.
- Upgraded bus facilities.
- Improved safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists along Avoca Drive.
- Attractive landscaping proposals.
Measures to protect the environment
The extension of Lakewood Avenue impacts on mature vegetation. This impact will be minimised through careful design, building retaining walls to reduce the amount of vegetation removed and narrowing of the roadway. Other environmental offsets proposed are:
- Replanting of selected native trees (more trees will be re-planted than will be removed).
- Building of an under-road fauna crossing.
- Removing weeds throughout the adjacent bushland.
- The dedication of land to increase the size of Green Point Reserve.
Contact us
For more information contact the project manager Balendran
(02) 4379 7001
Balendran@rta.nsw.gov.au
Back to top